On the Existence of Digital Objects

Yuk Hui

Abstract

This book is a philosophical investigation into digital objects; mere data in their simplest form, digital objects are in many cases further formalized through structural metadata schemes or ontologies. As data and metadata, these formalized objects present themselves as programmable objects which we can create, drag, delete; as well as reticulations which are created through logical inferences. How possible it is to think about individualisation and individuation of a digital object? This book systematically constructs a theory of relations based on a dialogue between Martin Heidegger and Gil ... More

This book is a philosophical investigation into digital objects; mere data in their simplest form, digital objects are in many cases further formalized through structural metadata schemes or ontologies. As data and metadata, these formalized objects present themselves as programmable objects which we can create, drag, delete; as well as reticulations which are created through logical inferences. How possible it is to think about individualisation and individuation of a digital object? This book systematically constructs a theory of relations based on a dialogue between Martin Heidegger and Gilbert Simondon. One one hand, we can investigate the individualisation of digital objects through the study of the history of ontology and mark-up languages GML, SGML, HTML, XML and web ontologies; and the individuation through an investigation of the existential structure of digital objects within their systems and milieux. With such a relational approach towards digital objects and technical systems, this book continues to take up the question of alienation proposed by Simondon, which according to him comes out of the lack of understanding of technics and subsequently opposes it to culture. Consequently, what kind of possibility is there for us in this technical system of digital objects after individuation and individualisation; to what extent can relational thinking help us to reflect on this question? The book reflects on the common vision on the convergence of culture and technics present in the thoughts of Simondon and Heidegger, with a phenomenological motif “back to the digital objects themselves”.